Namibia’s recent energy developments, including the significant discoveries of oil and gas, coupled with the enormous potential of green hydrogen, have attracted the attention of the global energy community, making it a global exploration hotspot.
Due to recent developments in the energy sector, Namibia is participating in the 2023 Africa Energy Indaba, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa. The event started on Tuesday and will conclude today. The conference, held under the theme ‘Africa Energy Transitioning to a Sustainable and Prosperous Future’, brought together industry experts, project developers, financiers, energy users, government officials and manufacturers to discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation across the continent.
At the event, Namibia yesterday conducted an in-depth round table conversation about how it is exploring and exploiting its comparative advantages across four key areas, namely recent oil and gas discoveries, the green hydrogen value chain, world-class renewable energy resources and international carbon markets.
The Namibia Investment and Development Board’s (NIPDB’s) executive director of Investments and New Ventures, François van Schalkwyk, said the future of synthetic fuels, green hydrogen, and oil and gas means Namibia’s energy mix will predominantly be green by 2040. He added Namibia is currently a net importer of electricity but is working to achieve its energy independence and to be able to serve its neighbours, as well as the southern African region. Deputy director of Compliance, Regulations and Economics in the energy ministry Carlo McLeod noted these are exciting times for Namibia.
“As you all know that meaningful discoveries have been made and from the government’s point of view, we are working on trying to find ways and how to see to it that these resources that have been discovered meaningfully contribute to the lives of Namibians,” said McLeod.
He added Namibia has looked at a number of interventions, with the most important being a local content policy that is currently in draft form.
The idea is for Namibia not to just depend on taxes and royalties, but to gain more value from its natural resources, which is why this local content policy is crucial. Frans Kalenga, senior manager of sustainable energies at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), stated there are now six hydrocarbon discoveries in the country – both government and private sector-led – which are all at different stages of development.
He added Namibia is looking at establishing an implementation office, which he said is moving into high gear to create an environment conducive to energy exploration and production – and that provides comfort to investors.
– mndjavera@nepc.com.na